MINOX is probably best known for its micro cameras—tiny devices that look like something James Bond would have stowed in his tuxedo. The German company has been around for the better part of a century manufacturing quality glass, and it has, at long last, entered the tactical riflescope realm with a complete line of scopes. The most interesting to me is the ZP8 1-8x24 mm.

Beyond its 8X magnification range, MINOX put an innovative reticle into the ZP8. Called the MR10, it combines an illuminated, mil-based reticle in the first focal plane with a red dot at the center of the crosshair in the second focal plane. Using the company’s Complete Combat Reticle (CCR) technology, the red dot comes on when the magnification ring is turned slightly to roughly 1.1X and stays on until the power is increased beyond 2.5X, at which point illumination switches to the first-focal-plane reticle. This allows for easy target acquisition and engagement at close range using the red dot at low magnification, and seamless transition to more distant targets using the reticle, all by simply turning the magnification ring.

This huge, precise optic is a wonderful example of the increasingly popular battle-scope configuration. With an impressive 8x power range, the MINOX zooms from extreme wide angle (too wide, we thought) up to useful magnifications for precision work out to 500 yards. The exposed turrets are tight, and the first-plane reticle has an innovative illumination feature that lights either the center crosshairs or the entire reticle, depending on magnification. Built on a 34mm tube, the 25-ounce ZP8 is lighter than it appears.